Cooking apparatus

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure relates to a cooking apparatus having a heating module capable of moving in a two-dimensional space and, particularly, to a cooking apparatus comprising: an upper plate configured to support a cooking vessel, a heating module disposed movably in a space provided under the upper plate and included a coil, and a rail disposed under the heating module to guide movements of the heating module, wherein electric current is supplied to the rail and the heating module supplies an alternating current through the rail. According to the present disclosure, the heating module supplies a current through the rail rather than receiving a current through a separate connection coil or wiring from an external power supply, thereby enabling shorting or disconnection of a current to be prevented even if the heating module moves.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a cooking apparatus, and, particularly, to a cooking apparatus that can change a position of a heating module for heating a cooking vessel.

BACKGROUND

In general, cooking apparatuses denote products that heat food using electricity or other energy sources (e.g., gas) at homes or in indoor spaces.

They can be classified as a cooking apparatus such as a gas range, a gas oven, or a gas oven range and the like that use gas as a heat source, a cooking apparatus such as an induction range that uses electricity as a heat source, an electric range using a radiant heater, a microwave oven and the like. Also, they include a cooking apparatus where an induction range using electricity and a gas oven using gas are combined.

The induction range is a cooking apparatus that uses induction heating (IH). Induction heating involves a technology of enabling induced current to flow without directly contacting an object subject to heating. That is, induction heating is a technology of generating heat in a cooking vessel disposed in a magnetic field space using a magnetic field that is formed around a coil when electric current is supplied to the coil. In this situation, the cooking vessel may be made of a material to which a magnet is attached (e.g., a metallic material to which a magnet is attached).

For example, a cooking apparatus of the related art is disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2907-0127097.

In the cooking apparatus of the related art, a coil for heating a cooking vessel is provided at a predetermined position of the cooking apparatus. Accordingly, users have to dispose a cooking vessel at a position corresponding to the coil.

DISCLOSURE Technical Problems

As a means to solve the above-described problem, the present disclosure is directed to a cooking apparatus that can heat a cooking vessel even when the cooking vessel is disposed at any position on the cooking apparatus.

The present disclosure is also directed to a cooking apparatus that can move a heating module provided at the cooking apparatus in a lengthwise direction and a widthwise direction of the cooking apparatus.

The present disclosure is also directed to a cooking apparatus that can supply electric current stably to the heating module without interruption of supply of current or disconnection of current even when the heating module provided at the cooking apparatus is moved.

Technical Solutions

According to the present disclosure, provided is a cooking apparatus including a rail that is supplied with electric current and a heating module that is movable on the rail and that receives electric current through the rail.

The cooking apparatus may include an upper plate configured to support a cooking vessel, a heating module disposed movably in a space under the upper plate and included a coil, and a rail disposed under the heating module to guide movements of the heating module.

Accordingly, even when a cooking vessel is disposed at any position on the upper plate, the heating module may be moved to a lower portion of the cooking vessel, thereby ensuring an increased degree of freedom for arrangement of a cooking vessel.

In case electric current is supplied to the rail, the heating module may supply alternating current through the rail.

Accordingly, the heating module may have higher degrees of freedom of mobility than a heating module that receives electric current through an additional connection coil or an additional wire, and an electric short-circuit or an electric disconnection between the rail and the heating module may be prevented.

The rail may include a first rail on which the heating module is disposed and which is electrically connected with the heating module. In the situation, the heating module may be configured to move along extension direction of the first rail while maintaining the electric connection with the first rail.

Accordingly, even when the heating module moves along extension direction of the first rail, the heating module may continue to receive electric current from the first rail.

A pair of first rails may be provided to supply electric current to the heating module. Additionally, the heating module may be provided with a pair of contact terminals that are kept in contact with the pair of first rails.

Accordingly, the first rail may receive alternating current, and the heating module may also receive alternating current through the pair of contact terminals.

A free end of the contact terminal may contact an upper end of the first rail. The contact terminal may be provided with a bent portion that allows the free end to elastically contact the upper end of the first rail.

Accordingly, even when the heating module moves on the first rail, the electric connection between the heating module and the first rail may be maintained stably.

The rail may further include a second rail that is orthogonal to the first rail and that is electrically connected with the first rail. The first rail may be configured to move along extension direction of the second rail while maintaining the electric connection with the second rail.

That is, in case electric current from an external power supply is supplied to any one of the first rail and the second rail, the electric current may also be supplied to the other. Thus, a degree of freedom for an electric connection through an external power supply may be increased.

Preferably, the external power supply may be electrically connected to the second rail, and electric current from the external power supply may be supplied to the second rail. This is because an electric connection between the external power supply and the fixed second rail is more effective than an electric connection between the external power supply and the movable first rail to prevent an electric short-circuit or an electric disconnection.

The cooking apparatus may further include: a first moving tool for moving the heating module on the first rail, and a second moving tool for moving the first rail on the second rail.

The first moving tool and the second moving tool may freely move the heating module in the lengthwise direction and the widthwise direction of the cooking apparatus.

The first moving tool and the second moving tool may be electrically connected to the first rail or the second rail to receive electric current.

Further, the heating module may be further provided with an inverter that converts electric current supplied through the rail into high-frequency current and that supplies the high-frequency current to the coil.

The inverter may be disposed under the coil, and the heating module may be further provided with a magnetic field-blocking member disposed between the coil and the inverter.

Advantageous Effects

The cooking apparatus may heat a cooking vessel even when the cooking vessel is disposed at any position on the cooking apparatus.

The cooking apparatus may move a heating module provided at the cooking apparatus in a lengthwise direction and a widthwise direction of the cooking apparatus.

The cooking apparatus may also supply electric current stably to a heating module without interruption of supply of current or disconnection of current even when the heating module provided at the cooking apparatus is moved.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a conceptual view illustrating a cooking apparatus according an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a heating module provided at the cooking apparatus in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating an electric connection between a rail and a coil provided at a heating module.

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a connection between main components.

BEST MODE

Below, a cool water-supply apparatus according to an embodiment is specifically described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings illustrate examples of the present disclosure and are provided to describe the disclosure in detail. Thus, the technical scope of the present disclosure should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments and drawings set forth herein.

Regardless of numbers of the drawings, like reference numerals denote like components, and description of like components is not repeated. Further, the size of and shape of each component illustrated in the drawings may be exaggerated or reduced for convenience of description.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual view illustrating a cooking apparatus according an embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a heating module provided at the cooking apparatus in FIG. 1.

Specifically, FIG. 1 is a schematic plane view illustrating a state in which an upper plate, where a cooking vessel is disposed, is removed, and FIG. 2 is a schematic lateral cross-sectional view illustrating a heating module.

For convenience of description, an X-axis in FIG. 1 may indicate a lengthwise direction of a cooking apparatus, and a Y-axis in FIG. 1 may indicate a widthwise direction of the cooking apparatus.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a cooking apparatus 10 according to an embodiment may be implemented as an induction range in which a cooking vessel is heated by a magnetic field that is generated by electric current supplied to a coil.

The cooking apparatus 10 may include a heating module 200 disposed under an upper plate 100, and a rail 310, 320 disposed under the heating module 200.

The upper plate 100 may be made of at least one of glass, marble, ceramics, and wood. A cooking vessel 150 may be disposed on the upper plate 100. That is, the cooking vessel 150 may be supported by the upper plate 100.

In this situation, the cooking vessel may be made of a material that may be heated by a magnetic field generated in the heating module 200. For example, the cooking vessel 150 may be made of a material to which a magnet is attached (e.g., metal to which a magnet is attached).

The heating module 200 may be disposed in a space (S) provided under the upper plate 100. The heating module 200 may be movably provided in the space (S). For example, the heating module 200 may be movably provided in the space (S) in the lengthwise direction and the widthwise direction of the cooking apparatus.

The heating module 200 may be provided with a coil 210. The coil 210 may be made of a material including copper. For example, the coil 210 may have a shape in which a copper wire is wound a few times in a circular form. That is, the coil 210 may have a shape in which a copper wire is wound a plurality of times in different radial directions. In other words, the coil 210 may have a shape in which a copper wire is wound a plurality of times such that a radius of the copper wire is gradually increased.

When electric current is supplied to the coil 210, a magnetic field may be generated. In this situation, the electric current may be alternating current. A cooking vessel 150 disposed above the coil 210 may be heated by the magnetic field generated in the coil 210.

The heating module 200 may be further provide with an inverter 270 disposed under the coil 210. The inverter 270 may be configured to convert electric current supplied to the heating module 200 into high-frequency current. That is, electric current is supplied to the inverter 270 from an external power supply, and the inverter 270 may convert electric current supplied by the external power supply into high-frequency current and may supply the high-frequency current to the coil 210.

The inverter 270 is provided at the heating module 200. When the heating module 200 moves, the invert 270 may also move. The inverter 270 may be controlled by a below-described controller (C). For example, the inverter 270 may be controlled by the controller (C) through wireless communication.

That is, as the inverter 270 moves together with the coil 210 when the heating module 200 moves, an electric short circuit or an electric disconnection between the inverter 270 and the coil 210 may be prevented although the heating module 200 moves.

The heating module 200 may be further provided with a magnetic field-blocking member 250 disposed between the coil 210 and the inverter 270. That is, the coil 210, the magnetic field-blocking member 250 and the inverter 270 may be consecutively disposed in an up-down direction. The magnetic field-blocking member 250 may be configured to block a magnetic field generated in the coil 210 from proceeding to the inverter 270.

For example, the magnetic field-blocking member 250 may be formed into an aluminum plate. The magnetic field-blocking member 250 may prevent the inverter 270 from operating incorrectly and from being damaged.

The heating module 200 may be further provided with a ferrite core 230 disposed between the coil 210 and the inverter 270. The ferrite core 230 may be disposed between the coil 210 and the magnetic field-blocking member 250.

By the ferrite core 230, a path of a magnetic field generated in the coil 210 may concentrate on a cooking vessel 150 disposed above the coil 210. That is, the ferrite core 230 may concentrate a path of a magnetic field generated in the coil 210 on an upper side of the coil 210, and may magnify intensity of a magnetic field affecting a cooking vessel.

Referring to FIG. 1, the rail 310, 320 may be configured to guide movements of the heating module 200. The rail 310, 320 may be disposed under the heating module 200. That is, the rail 310, 320 may be disposed under the heating module 200 in a space (S) provided under the above-described top plate 100.

Electric current from an external power supply may be supplied to the rail 310, 320. For example, the rail 310, 320 may be made of electrically conductive metal. Additionally, the heating module 200 may be supplied with electric current through the rail 310, 320. Accordingly, although the heating module 200 moves in the space (S), a short circuit may be prevented between the rail 310, 320 and the heating module 200.

The heating module 200 may be disposed on the rail 310, 320, and the rail 310, 320 may include a first rail 310 electrically connected to the heating module 200. The first rail 310 may be configured to have a predetermined length such that the first rail extends in the widthwise direction (i.e., the Y-axis direction) of the cooking apparatus 10.

The heating module 200 may move on the first rail 310 along extension direction of the first rail 310. When the heating module 200 moves on the first rail 310, an electric connection between the first rail 310 and the heating module 200 may be maintained.

Accordingly, regardless of a position of the heating module 200 on the first rail 310, the heating module 200 may be supplied with electric current from an external power supply through the first rail 310.

Specifically, a pair of the first rails 310 may be provided to supply alternating current to the heating module 200. That is, a pair of first rails 310 may extend in the widthwise direction of the cooking apparatus 10 in parallel with each other.

Additionally, the heating module 200 may be provided with a contact terminal 280 that keeps contacting the first rail 310. A pair of contact terminals 280 may be provided to correspond to the pair of first rails 310. Through the pair of first rails 310 and the pair of contact terminals 280, alternating current may be supplied to the heating module 200.

For example, in the embodiment, the pair of first rails 310 and the pair of contact terminals 280 may contact each other at a pair of first contact areas 315. Positions of the pair of first contact areas 315 may vary depending on movements of the heating module 200 on the first rail 310.

One end of the contact terminal 280 may be connected to the inverter 270, and the other end (i.e., a free end) of the contact terminal 280 may contact the first rail 310. Accordingly, electric current from an external power supply may consecutively pass the first rail 310, the contact terminal 280 and the inverter 270 and then may be supplied to the coil 210.

For example, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an electric connection between a rail and a coil provided at a heating module.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, a pair of first rails 310 may be spaced apart from each other and may be disposed in parallel with each other. The first rail 310 may have a shape in which a surface area of its upper end is smaller than a surface area of its lower end, and the contact terminal 280 may contact the upper end. Accordingly, a short that may occur between the first rail 310 and the contact terminal 280 may be prevented.

The first rail 310 and the inverter 270 may be electrically connected by the contact terminal 280.

Specifically, the free end 289 of the contact terminal 280 may contact the upper end of the first rail 310. In this situation, the contact terminal 280 may be provided with a bent portion 281 such that the free end 289 elastically contacts the upper end of the first rail 310.

That is, the bent portion 281 is formed at the first rail 310 and the free end of the first rail 310 may elastically contact the upper end of the first rail 310. The bent portion 281 may be disposed closer to the other end of the contact terminal 280 than to one end of the contact terminal 280. In other words, the bent portion 281 may be disposed near the free end 289 of the contact terminal 280.

Accordingly, the free end of the contact terminal 280 is pressed downwards on the first rail 310 against the first rail 310, and a contact force between the first rail 310 and the contact terminal 280 may be increased.

Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 2, the rail 310, 320 may further include a second rail 320 that is orthogonal to the first rail 310. The second rail 320 may be electrically connected to the first rail 310.

The first rail 310 may move along extension direction of the second rail 320 while maintaining the electric connection with the second rail 320. That is, the second rail 320 may be configured to extend in a predetermined length in the lengthwise direction (i.e., the X-axis direction) of the cooking apparatus 10.

Additionally, the first rail 310 may be configured to move on the second rail 320 along extension direction of the second rail 320. In this situation, although the first rail 310 is moved on the second rail 320, the electric connection between the first rail 310 and the second rail 320 may be maintained.

In the embodiment, a pair of second rails 320 may be provided to correspond to the pair of first rails 310. The pair of first rails 310 and the pair of second rails 320 may contact each other at a pair of second contact areas 325. Positions of the pair of second contact areas 325 may vary depending on movements of the first rail 310 on the second rail 320.

When electric current is supplied to any one of the first rail 310 and the second rail 320 from an external power supply, the electric current may also be supplied to the other rail. That is, as the first rail 310 and the second rail 320 are electrically connected, a degree of freedom of an electric connection through the external power supply may be increased.

Preferably, the external power supply may be electrically connected to the second rail 320, and the first rail 310 may receive electric current through the second rail 320, as the first rail 310 may move on the second rail 320 along extension direction of the second rail 320.

That is, the first rail 310 may move and the second rail 320 may be fixed to a predetermined position. For example, the second rail 320 may be disposed at one side in the widthwise direction of the space (S).

When an external power supply is connected to the movable first rail 310 directly and electrically, an electric short circuit or an electric disconnection may occur between the external power supply and the first rail 310. Preferably, an external power supply is connected to the fixed second rail 320, and the first rail 310 is supplied with electric current through the second rail 320.

That is, as the external power supply may be connected to the second rail 320 directly and electrically, the electric current from the external power supply may pass the second rail 320, the first rail 310, the contact terminal 280 and the inverter 270 consecutively and then may be supplied to the coil 210.

The cooking apparatus 10 may further include one or more moving tools 410, 420 for moving the heating module 200. For example, the moving tools 410, 420 may be formed by at least one of a wheel, a motor, a gear and a hydraulic cylinder or combinations thereof. A detailed configuration of the moving tool is disclosed regarding various moving tool. Accordingly, detailed description in relation to this is omitted.

The moving tools 410, 420 may include a first moving tool 410 for moving the heating module 200 on the first rail 310, and a second moving tool 420 for moving the second rail 320 on the second rail 320.

The first moving tool 410 may be configured to supply power for moving the heating module 200 on the first rail 310. Additionally, the second moving tool 420 may be configured to supply power for moving the second rail 320 on the second rail 320.

In the embodiment, the first moving tool 410 may be provided at the heating module 200 or may be spaced apart from the heating module 200. Preferably, the first moving tool 410 is provided at the heating module 200 such that interference is prevented when the heating module 200 moves.

Preferably, the second moving tool 420 is also disposed at a position where interference may be minimized when the heating module 200 moves. The second moving tool 420 may be disposed at one side of the second rail 320.

For example, the second rail 320 and the second moving tool 420 may all be disposed at one side of the cooking apparatus 10 in the widthwise direction thereof. Additionally, the second moving tool 420 may be disposed to lean further towards at one side of the cooking apparatus 10 in the widthwise direction thereof than the second rail 320. Accordingly, interference between the second moving tool 420 and the heating module 200 may be prevented.

The heating module 200 may be disposed on a first support bracket 290. The first support bracket 290 may have a length greater than a width and may be disposed on a second support bracket 390 at which the first rail 310 is disposed. The second support bracket 390 may extend along extension direction of the first rail 310. The second support bracket 390 may have a width greater than a length.

The first support bracket 290 may make relative movements with respect to the second support bracket 390 by the first moving tool 410. That is, the first support bracket 290 may be moved along extension direction of the second support bracket 390 by the first moving tool 410. For example, the first support bracket 290 may be slid on the second support bracket 390 by the first moving tool 410.

The second support bracket 390 may make relative movements with respect to the second rail 320 by the second moving tool 420. That is, the second support bracket 390 may be moved along extension direction of the second rail 320 by the second moving tool 420. For example, the second rail 320 may be disposed at a bottom surface of the space (S) provided under the above-described top plate 100, and the second support bracket 390 may be slid on the second rail 320 by the second moving tool 420.

The first rail 310 and the second moving tool 420 may be disposed at the second support bracket 390. Additionally, the second rail 320 may be disposed to cross the second support bracket 390 in the lengthwise direction (the X-axis direction) under the second support bracket 390.

The moving tools 410, 420 may be supplied with electric current through at least one of the first rail 310 and the second rail 320. For example, the first moving tool 410 and the second moving tool 420 may be electrically connected with the first rail 310 or the second rail 320 and may be supplied with electric current. Accordingly, a wire for supplying electric current to the first rail 310 and the second rail 320 may be simply implemented.

In the embodiment, the first moving tool 410 and the second moving tool 420 may all be supplied with electric current through the first rail 310.

Specifically, a first connection wire 411 may be provided between the first moving tool 410 and the contact terminal 280, and the first moving tool 410 may be supplied with electric current through the first connection wire 411.

A second connection wire 421 may be provided between the second moving tool 420 and the first rail 310, and the second moving tool 420 may be supplied with electric current through the second connection wire 421.

For example, the second connection wire 421 may be disposed to connect one end of the first rail 310 in a lengthwise direction thereof and the second moving tool 420. One end of the first rail 310 in the lengthwise direction thereof may be one of both ends of the first rail 310 in the lengthwise direction thereof, which is relatively close to the second moving tool 420.

Through the arrangement of the first connection wire 411 and the second connection wire 421, interference with the heating module 200 may be prevented, and, using a minimum length of the connection wire, electric current may be supplied to the first moving tool 410 and the second moving tool 420.

Below, an electric connection between main components provided at the cooking apparatus 10 is described with reference to another drawing.

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a connection between main components. Referring to FIG. 4, the second rail 320 may be electrically connected to an external power supply 50. That is, the second rail 320 may be connected to the external power supply 50 directly and electrically.

The second rail 320 may be electrically connected to the first rail 310. Accordingly, electric current from the external power supply 50 may be supplied to the first rail 310 through the second rail 320.

The first rail 310 may be electrically connected respectively to the heating module 200, the first moving tool 410 and the second moving tool 420.

Specifically, the first rail 310 and the second moving tool 420 may be connected directly and electrically. The first rail 310 and the heating module 200 may also be connected directly and electrically.

Additionally, the first rail 310 and the first moving tool 410 may be electrically connected through the contact terminal 280 provided at the heating module 200.

The heating module 200, the first moving tool 410 and the second moving tool 420 may be controlled by the controller (C). For example, the heating module 200, the first moving tool 410 and the second moving tool 420 may communicate with the controller (C) using a wireless communication method.

The heating module 200, the first moving tool 410 and the second moving tool 420 may be provided respectively with a communication module (not illustrated) to communicate with the controller (C), and the controller (C) may also be provided with a communication module.

The heating module 200, the first moving tool 410 and the second moving tool 420 may be controlled by the controller (C) through wireless communication. Accordingly, interference between the heating module 200 and a communication wire caused by movements of the heating module 200 may be prevented through control by the controller using wireless communication better than through control by the controller using the communication wire.

Electric current from the external power supply 50, as described above, may pass the second rail 320 and the first rail 310 consecutively and may be respectively supplied to the second moving tool 420 and the heating module 200. Further, electric current supplied to the heating module 200 may be supplied to the first moving tool 410 through the contact terminal 280 provided at the heating module 200.

The cooking apparatus of the present disclosure, as described above, may heat a cooking vessel through a change in a position of a single heating module even when the cooking vessel is disposed at any position on the cooking apparatus.

The cooking apparatus of the present disclosure may supply electric current stably to the heating module without interruption of supply of current or disconnection of current even when the heating module provided at the cooking apparatus is moved.

The present disclosure has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments illustrated in the drawings. Further, the disclosure may be modified in various different forms by one having ordinary skill in the art to which the disclosure pertains within the technical spirit and scope of the disclosure defined in the appended claims. Thus, modifications made to the embodiments of the disclosure should be included in the present disclosure. 

1. A cooking apparatus, comprising: an upper plate configured to support a cooking vessel, a heating module disposed movably in a space provided under the upper plate and included a coil, and a rail disposed under the heating module to guide movements of the heating module, wherein electric current is supplied to the rail and the heating module supplies an alternating current through the rail.
 2. The cooking apparatus of claim 1, wherein, the rail includes a first rail on which the heating module is disposed and which is electrically connected to the heating module, and the heating module is movable along extension direction of the first rail while maintaining an electric connection with the first rail.
 3. The cooking apparatus of claim 2, wherein, a pair of the first rails are provided to supply electric current to the heating module, and the heating module is provided with a pair of contact terminals that are kept in contact with the pair of first rails.
 4. The cooking apparatus of claim 3, wherein, a free end of the contact terminal contacts an upper end of the first rail, and the contact terminal includes a bent portion that allows the free end to elastically contact the upper end of the first rail.
 5. The cooking apparatus of claim 2, wherein, the rail further includes a second rail that is orthogonal to the first rail and is electrically connected to the first rail, and the first rail is movable along extension direction of the second rail while maintaining an electric connection with the second rail.
 6. The cooking apparatus of claim 5, further, comprising: a first moving tool for moving the heating module on the first rail, and a second moving tool for moving the first rail on the second rail.
 7. The cooking apparatus of claim 6, wherein, the first moving tool and the second moving tool are electrically connected to the first rail or the second rail and receive electric current.
 8. The cooking apparatus of claim 5, wherein, an external power supply is electrically connected to the second rail, and electric current from the external power supply is supplied to the second rail.
 9. The cooking apparatus of claim 1, wherein, the heating module further includes an inverter configured to convert electric current supplied through the rail into high-frequency current and to supply the high-frequency current to the coil.
 10. The cooking apparatus of claim 9, wherein, the inverter is disposed under the coil, and the heating module further includes a magnetic field-blocking member disposed between the coil and the inverter. 